Abstract
Ants are a biodiverse group of insects that have evolved toxic venom containing many undiscovered bioactive molecules. In this study, we found that the venom of the ruby ant Myrmica rubra is a rich source of peptides. LC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 142 different peptides varying in molecular weight, sequence length, and hydrophobicity. One of the most abundant peaks was selected for further biochemical and functional characterization. Combined Edman degradation and de novo peptide sequencing revealed the presence of a novel decapeptide (myrmicitoxin) with the amino acid sequence NH2-IDPKLLESLA-CONH2. The decapeptide was named U-MYRTX-MRArub1 and verified against a synthetic standard. The amidated peptide was tested in a synthetic form to determine the antimicrobial activity towards the bacterial pathogens and insecticidal potential against pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum). This peptide did not show antimicrobial activity but it significantly reduced the survival of aphids. It also increased the sensitivity of the aphids to two commonly used chemical insecticides (imidacloprid and methomyl). Since ant venom research is still in its infancy, the findings of this first study on venom peptides derived from M. rubra highlight these insects as an important and rich source for discovery of novel lead structures with potential application in pest control.
Highlights
There are almost 13,400 extant species of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with significant taxonomic diversity [1,2]
Crude venom was collected as a pooled sample from several M. rubra workers and was separated by HPLC-DAD before ESI-QTOF-MS analysis
We explored the molecular secrets of the toxins located in the venom of ruby ant including the functional analysis of the most abundant decapeptide U-MYRTX-MRArub1
Summary
There are almost 13,400 extant species of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with significant taxonomic diversity [1,2]. Many of these species are venomous [3], but little research has been carried out to determine the molecular components of ant venom due to the challenging taxonomy, the small quantity of venom available for analysis, and the widely accepted misconception that this venom is simple and contains primarily formic acid [4,5]. The molecular weaponry ranges from small molecules (e.g., alkaloids), through to peptides, proteins and other substances (e.g., formic acid, biogenic amines, and salts) [8]. Given the threats posed by the antibiotic and insecticide resistance issues, there is a rising demand for novel lead
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